Whiting: Young filmmaker plans God's place in movies

Feb. 22, 2013

Updated Aug. 21, 2013 1:17 p.m.

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Brian Ivie, who grew up in San Clemente, frames a shot in South Korea for his award-winning film, "The Drop Box." Ivie plans to change the culture in Hollywood and make faith-based films. COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

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Brian Ivie, former San Clemente resident, accepts the Jubilee Award at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

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After winning $101,000, Brian Ivie, former San Clemente resident, prays with the judges at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival for wise use of the funds. COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

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Brian Ivie, former San Clemente resident, with his Jubilee Award at the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

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Brian Ivie, former San Clemente resident, checks out the drop box at the South Korean orphanage he filmed. COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

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Brian Ivie, who grew up in San Clemente, handles the camera while filming pastor Lee Jong-rak in South Korea for the documentary, "The Drop Box." COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

Brian Ivie, who grew up in San Clemente, frames a shot in South Korea for his award-winning film, "The Drop Box." Ivie plans to change the culture in Hollywood and make faith-based films.COURTESY BRIAN IVIE

Regardless of one's beliefs, there are higher callings than the mighty dollar.

As we watch the Academy Awards tonight and debate the merits of "Lincoln" versus "Argo," there is a young man who recently won a $101,000 film prize who no longer cares about the Oscars ceremony that once was his passion.

Yes, the award money isn't what truly matters – and neither do the Oscars. While making an award-winning documentary at the ripe age of 22, Brian Ivie discovered his lifelong love for filmmaking was merely a journey to something far larger – his faith.

Now, the USC film major who founded his movie production company in his teens is about to embark on his most ambitious plan ever: Changing the culture of the very thing he once dreamed about – Hollywood.

• • •

If the name Brian Ivie is familiar, it may be because a few years ago I wrote about him launching his own production company and producing a feature film.

Nineteen at the time, Ivie already was an auteur – writing, directing, producing. A lot has happened since then.

As Ivie puts it, "My whole world turned upside down."

Ivie's religious awakening started with an article detailing how a pastor in South Korea has an orphanage with something called a drop box for unwanted babies. The drop box, a metal drawer on the outside of the orphanage connecting to the inside, allows women with infants to quietly give them up.

After reading about the babies, most with special needs, Ivie felt the need to travel to Seoul and tell the pastor's story through film.

"I was going to help these people," says Ivie, who had also made a short documentary about water problems in Africa. "I thought I was going to do this at arms' length."

That isn't the way things turned out.

Ivie, who grew up in San Clemente, says the best films are a call to action. The secret to success is first choosing a compelling story, then telling that story in a compelling way. "That's how we learn, that's how we change – through story."

Of the $80,000 break-even film that came to be called, "The Drop Box," Ivie explains he "went for the most gritty human story possible – a mailbox for babies."

He started soliciting donations, gathered an all-volunteer crew of fellow students and flew 6,000 miles. The crew lived with the orphans, slept at the orphanage, and got sick when the babies got sick.

Since 1998, pre-film, pastor Lee Jong-rak had helped some three-dozen babies. Post-film, the orphanage averages two babies a week.

During the process of making the documentary, Ivie's ideas about what's important changed. He witnessed the pastor devote himself to helping discarded children, and eventually Ivie, too, came to understand the mystery of faith.

Ivie says he felt adopted by God. "I was saved as well."

• • •

The first time I met Ivie, it was clear I was meeting someone mature beyond his years. Even as a teenager, Ivie had skill and confidence. But he also had something more elusive – vision.

Two years ago, Ivie was audacious enough to tell me he planned to produce big-budget feature films. Today, well, that vision seems rather small.

Ivie, a college senior, says he will "go into the belly of the beast in Hollywood" and present Gospel-themed films to the world.

They may sound like arrogant words, especially from a college student. But don't underestimate Ivie, and don't underestimate the power of faith.

Ivie explains that becoming a born-again Christian didn't come in a sudden epiphany, but evolved over the course of filming. With the filming over, his determination is as strong as ever – perhaps stronger.

Turned down at Sundance, Ivie almost didn't enter what many consider the biggest Christian film festival, the San Antonio Independent Christian Film Festival. But he entered, and two weeks ago sat in the audience to learn who won the biggest prize of all, the Jubilee Award and its $101,000 prize.

What he heard stunned him: "The Drop Box."

Dressed in a dark business suit, Ivie made his way to the stage and wept. Sure, they were tears of joy for being recognized. But for Ivie, the moment was far more profound.

"It was an endorsement from heaven."

Festival judge Curtis Bowers said, "We saw in this young man someone who ... was willing to defend those that no one cares about and wants to get rid of. That's a young man we want to invest in because he's going to change the world with his films."

After some jokes about his youth and many congratulations, Ivie looked at the 1,800 people in the audience and vowed, "I would rather tell the plainest truth with $100,000 than the most sophisticated technological lie with $100 million."

Then the judges and Ivie prayed.

• • •

Of his former ambition and transformation, Ivie says, "I'm just an ordinary guy.

"I never thought I'd say 'born again,' but that's the only way to describe it."

Ivie also says his was a spiritual leap that may be difficult to understand unless it's experienced. Calling himself a child of God, Ivie also discounts his own experience. He has larger issues to face, like taking on the titans of Hollywood.

The San Antonio Christian film festival details its relation to Hollywood in an article called, "The Difference Between an Oscar and a Jubilee Award." It states: "The one represents the dark and evolutionary worldview of Hollywood, replete with its detestation for the biblical family.

"The other represents the bright hope of the influence of Christianity on families and this nation."

Ivie offers a softer tone, saying, "Hollywood, they're the culture makers. They define how we relate to each other and what we believe in. What needs to be presented is a different world view.

"I think the Gospel is the greatest story ever told. We need to make big-budget films about truth. We need to change the whole game."

With the amount of sex and violence in movies and on television the subject of a national debate, Ivie's plans may be particularly timely. And with a pro-life film in development, Ivie is ready for Hollywood.

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